Woman hops barrier at Bronx Zoo, winds up face to face with lion

Wednesday

Oct 2, 2019 at 1:32 PMOct 2, 2019 at 1:45 PM

Zookeepers in New York say a woman is lucky to be alive after she hopped into the lion enclosure at the Bronx Zoo this week.

In video posted online, the unidentified woman can be seen dancing and waving just feet away from the big cat. She also reportedly got up close and personal with a giraffe elsewhere on zoo property, the New York Post reports.

“I’m sorry, but that’s dumb,” zoogoer Andrea Arndt told the Post. “Why would you do this? ... It may be a zoo, but it’s still a wild animal.”

A moat between the woman and the lion likely saved her from getting mauled, bystanders said.

It's not clear if the woman, once identified, could be charged with a crime. Zoo officials, however, were quick to voice anger over the incursion.

"This action was a serious violation and unlawful trespass that could have resulted in serious injury or death," the zoo said in a written statement obtained by WNBC-TV. "Barriers and rules are in place to keep both visitors, staff and animals safe. We have a zero-tolerance policy on trespass and violation of barriers."